Israeli-Canadian Jewish billionaire and businessman Sylvan Adams has joined the drive to land first Israeli spacecraft on the moon as he contributed $5 million to SpaceIL, the company announced on Monday.
“This contribution to strengthening the Israeli space program, and encouraging education for excellence and innovation among the younger generation in Israel, is the best gift I could have asked for,” Adams said while celebrating his 60th birthday on Monday.
“I believe that sending the first Israeli spacecraft to the moon will inspire Israeli school children to take up STEM studies and think about space exploration, and especially to believe that everything is possible,” he added.
SpaceIL president Morris Kahn, who donated $27 million toward the project, expressed his appreciation towards Adams.
“I want to thank Sylvan Adams for his generous contribution to our effort,” he said. “He joins an amazing group of donors with a common vision: to land the first Israeli spacecraft on the moon. We are in the final stretch, and I believe that his joining will help us raise the remaining money to complete our ambitious mission.”
“We are in the final stretch before the launch and preparations are at full power,” said SpaceIL CEO Ido Anteby. “The teams of SpaceIL and IAI [Israel Aerospace Industries] are making great progress in a series of tests and trials being carried out at IAI’s space facility.”
He added, “At the same time, we are stepping up activities to promote scientific and technological education in the State of Israel, ahead of launch. We thank Mr. Sylvan Adams for his contribution.”
